Nanoengineered biomaterials for cartilage repair

Cartilage disorders are among the primary causes of severe joint pain, physical disability, and quality of life impairments in the world’s aging population. Although many approaches have been suggested for treating cartilage diseases, these approaches generally have acted only as painkillers and have failed to completely cure the disorders. Consequently, tissue engineering and biomaterial approaches aimed at cartilage regeneration have gained a great deal of attention among scientists. Several studies have reported positive results when using different kinds of 3D scaffolds for cartilage regeneration, such as polymeric-based scaffolds. In addition, recent nanotechnological developments have offered potential opportunities to greatly improve the properties of tissue-engineered scaffolds. Nanoscience approaches are focused on suggesting some novel substitutes that could more precisely mimic the ECM conditions of natural cartilage. This chapter serves as an introduction to the key factors related to cartilage tissue, including its anatomy, histology, and physiology, that biomaterials scientists need to take into account to successfully mimic the ECM of cartilage tissue. In addition, the progress of biomaterials and tissue engineering in this tissue will be discussed. The discussion will then emphasize the nanotechnological strategies, advancements, and drawbacks involved in cartilage regeneration.